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Compensation & Benefits

Sabbatical allows charity row from Miami to New York

04/20/2012

When qedis employee Lewis Colam wanted three months off to row a boat from Miami to New York to raise money for Alzheimer’s research, the company not only pitched in as a sponsor but gave him a sabbatical for the trip. Executives at the London-based management and technology consulting firm say they try to support their employees’ dreams.

How should we manage unused vacation?

04/19/2012

Q. Several of our employees have compiled a lot of vacation time. Is there any way we can manage how much vacation leave time our employees accrue?

What are the rules for unpaid internships?

04/19/2012

Q. Our company has received a number of résumés from college students interested in working as unpaid interns for us during the summer months. Would hiring such unpaid internships violate federal or state laws?

California federal court rules: Government agency must insure employee’s same-sex spouse

04/19/2012
In a case that’s already being appealed, a federal district court has ruled that a federal agency must enroll an employee’s same-sex spouse in the employee’s health care plan.

Paying nonexempt employees a salary? Be sure to get agreement on hourly rate

04/19/2012
Determining the amount of overtime pay depends on employees’ hourly rate of pay for the first 40 hours. That can sometimes be more complicated than it sounds, especially for employers that pay their hourly employees a set amount for their entire workweek, including overtime.

DOL goes nuts on Sunnyvale’s Crazy Buffet

04/19/2012
A federal judge has ordered Sunnyvale-based Crazy Buffet to pay its workers $404,000 in damages following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation. The Chinese-food buffet restaurant had a policy of not paying wages to workers, although it allowed them to keep their tips.

You don’t have to police meal-break work

04/19/2012

After years of employer uncertainty, the California Supreme Court has finally resolved what em­­ployers must do to provide meal and rest breaks. They must make sure employees are relieved of all duties during the breaks. However, they do not have to ensure that no work is performed during breaks.

Greater penalties for unequal pay these days?

04/19/2012
Q. Has the penalty for employer violations of the Illinois Equal Pay Act recently increased?

What are the rules for requesting FMLA leave?

04/19/2012
Q. Does an employee who wants to take FMLA leave have to specifically ask for it by name?

Never knew about unauthorized OT? You’re not liable under FLSA

04/19/2012

Every HR pro knows employers must pay overtime if an em­­ployee works more than 40 hours per week. But does an employer have to pay overtime if it doesn’t know or have reason to know that the employee worked overtime hours? No, according to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.